Author Topic: Benedict XVI wanted to be Father Benedict after resignation (Read 924 times)

Geremia · « **on:** January 02, 2015, 11:01:14 PM »

I'm surprised no one here on CathInfo, that I know of, noticed this:

Quote from: Catholic World News - December 09, 2014

The former Pope Benedict XVI would prefer to be known as “Father Benedict” rather than “Pope emeritus,” a German journalist reports.

Jorg Bremer, writing for the FAZ, reports that in a private conversation recently, the retired Pontiff told him that when he planned for his resignation, he wanted to be known as “Father Benedict,” but others opposed that suggestion and “I was too weak at that point to enforce it.”

The retired Pope also told Bremer that he welcomes the energy that Pope Francis has brought to the Vatican. He said that he could not have produced the same results “with my physical and mental weaknesses,” and he had concluded that it “would not have been honest” to remain in office because of his limitations.

The Pope-emeritus—or Father Benedict—said that it was “utter nonsense” to say that the recent revision of a 1972 essay, in which he had discussed the possibility of allowing Communion for Catholics who are divorced and remarried—was an effort to inject himself into the current debate on that question. He explained that his views on that topic were already well known. He said that he has tried “to be as quiet about it as I can” to avoid confusing the faithful.

https://www.catholicculture.org/news/headlines/index.cfm?storyid=23468

Why would he want to be considered "father" and not "cardinal"?
It's interesting to note that his Holy Orders, and not episcopal consecration, was in the pre-Vatican II rite. Could he be doubting the validity of his episcopal consecration in the new, post-Vatican II rite?

2Vermont · « **Reply #1 on:** January 03, 2015, 07:36:18 AM »

I guess anything's possible, but I doubt it.

JezusDeKoning · « **Reply #2 on:** January 03, 2015, 08:23:40 AM »

Ratzinger is the last of the Vatican II popes without any possible doubts in his ordination, [Bergoglio misses this by about a year and a half] so I have no qualms with this.

Ladislaus · « **Reply #3 on:** January 03, 2015, 09:28:48 AM »

Shouldn't it be Father Ratzinger? In the interests of avoiding confusion, that is.

Thurifer · « **Reply #4 on:** January 03, 2015, 11:16:59 AM »

Quote from: Ladislaus

Shouldn't it be Father Ratzinger? In the interests of avoiding confusion, that is.

Exactly. Or, if they want to be spread a little more of the modernist fairy dust, you could make the case for Father Joseph. I wonder if this was rejected, the name Father Benedict, because it is just one word shy of Holy Father Benedict.

Either way, I really can't stand the title Pope Emeritus. It drives me crazy when I hear it. Almost to an irrational level.

Ladislaus · « **Reply #5 on:** January 03, 2015, 11:42:13 AM »

Quote from: Thurifer

Quote from: Ladislaus
Shouldn't it be Father Ratzinger? In the interests of avoiding confusion, that is.

Exactly. Or, if they want to be spread a little more of the modernist fairy dust, you could make the case for Father Joseph. I wonder if this was rejected, the name Father Benedict, because it is just one word shy of Holy Father Benedict.

Either way, I really can't stand the title Pope Emeritus. It drives me crazy when I hear it. Almost to an irrational level.

Yes, it's a terrible title. Either you're the pope or you're not the pope. I also dislike it when the media refer to an ex-president as "Mr. President".

cassini · « **Reply #6 on:** January 03, 2015, 03:53:12 PM »

I thought Pope Benedict XVI was about to die when he resigned. I thought he was to retreat into privacy for this.
He seems more active now than ever. Strange, no?